Martin Luther

Martin Luther is the leader of the Protestant Reformation that takes place in Germany in the 16th century, which challenges the authority of the Catholic Church. This movement is important in Fromm's argument, as it is in the Reformation that he sees the seeds of capitalism and the growing isolation of the individual from his society.

The Church, as Fromm describes it, stands as an intermediary between God and the individual. The individual can confess and repent to the Church and receive forgiveness. Luther teaches that the Bible is the sole authority over Christians, effectively removing the church as an intermediary and placing each Christian alone before God. This idea is paralleled in the capitalist economy that is gaining a foothold in Europe at this time, Fromm claims. The Protestant ethic, which reinforces and is reinforced by capitalism, leads to increasing isolation among the German people, laying...